Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
- John 3:3
In the chapter addressing homosexuality, Ray describes the argument of gay people claiming they are born that way and how that argument can also be used to describe someone who commits adultery; they have resisted for years but finally gave in because they were born with that desire and had no choice. Then, Ray goes on to explain that argument is why, in order to resist this sin, we must be born again because we are born into a sinful nature. That's when it clicked for me; we are born into sin, therefore we must be born again so that we can be born into being free from that sin through Jesus Christ. I cannot say if I have written about something that the Holy Spirit revealed to me like this, but it was a powerful moment in my realization of this concept. Being born again is not physical, as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3, but it is a spiritual re-birth renewing our minds and spirit to be like Christ Jesus. When we are born, we have certain needs, wants, desires, etc. but when we are born again, those things change and Jesus becomes the center of our hierarchy of needs. After that everything falls into place because He can provide for us.
Making my way through this study, I have been teaching, and learning, how we can respond to objections of the Gospel. I hope this explanation helps you, as this is something I have overlooked in the past, but being born again truly is being born into a new life, with Jesus.
May the Holy Spirit move in you, and reveal what it is He wants you to know, that you can share your understand and faith with others. All glory to God, the one who saves. Amen.
